What is Smart Quill:

What is Smart Quill Smartquill , a pen that can remember the words that it is used to Write, and then transform them into computer text. SmartQuill , has been developed by world-leading research laboratories run by BT (formerly British Telecom) at Martlesham , eastern England. User could use any surface for writing such as paper, tablet, screen or even air. The SmartQuill isn't all space-age, though -- it contains an ink cartridge so that users can see what they write down on paper .

Contd……:

Contd …… SmartQuill contains sensors that record movement by using the earth's gravity system, irrespective of the platform used. The pen records the information inserted by the user. Your words of wisdom can also be uploaded to your PC through the “digital inkwell ”, while the files that you might want to view on the pen are downloaded to SmartQuill as well.

Features of Smart Quill:

Features of Smart Quill Display technology used in Smart Quill Handwriting recognition and signature verification Display scrolls using tilt sensors Communication with other devices Memory and power

Working of Smart Quill:

Working of Smart Quill Smart Quill is slightly larger than an ordinary fountain pen . Users can enter information into these applications by pushing a button on the pen and writing down what they would like to enter. The SmartQuill d oes not need a screen to work. The really clever bit of the technology is its ability to read handwriting not only on paper but on any flat surface – horizontal or vertical . There is also a small three-line screen to read the information stored in the pen; users can scroll down the screen by tilting the pen slightly

Contd…..:

Contd ….. The user trains the pen to recognize a particular handwriting style - no matter how messy it is, as long as it is consistent, the pen can recognize it. The handwritten notes are stored on hard disk of the pen. The pen is then plugged into an electronic "inkwell", text data is transmitted to a desktop computer, printer, or modem or to a mobile telephone to send files electronically.

Architecture:

Architecture

Display Technology:

Display Technology

Contd……:

Contd …… Technology used in SmartQuill for display is Kopin Corp’s Cyber Display technology. Cyber Display is a ¼ inch diagonal LCD that uses circuitry built on a silicon wafer, then removed and mounted to glass. The displays are integrated to miniature monitors using its own backlighting, optics, ICS and packaging.

Techniques used:

Techniques used There are 2 techniques used for this purpose:- Accelerometer technology Handwriting recognition software

Accelerometer Technology :

Accelerometer Technology This technology uses a device called Accelerometer which is used for measuring motion . A tiny accelerometer in a pen could be used to detect the stops and starts, arcs and loops of handwriting, and transmit this information to a small microprocessor that would make sense of it as text. There's also the possibility of viewing a full page of text through a special monocular magnified "virtual" screen that could be built into the end of the pen . Invisible writing in air is achieved through this unique technology called accelerometer that monitors hand movements and can also be used as a ‘virtual hinge’ to scroll around the small screen on the pen and detect left or right-handed use .

Contd….:

Contd …. It records movement by using the earth's gravity system, whether you write on paper or in the air. Hence it is independent of surface used. Movements are stored within the SmartQuill . This information is transmitted on to a small microprocessor that would make sense of it as a text displayed on the sleek built in screen. There are 2 types of accelerometer:- Two Axes Accelerometer: - This accelerometer measures acceleration in two axis. example for Two Axes Accelerometer is ADXL202 Accelerometer Three Axes Accelerator: - This accelerometer measures acceleration in three axis. example for Three Axes Accelerometer is Tronics +/- 2g accelerometer.

Handwriting Recognition software:

Handwriting Recognition software This software embedded in the microprocessor of the pen is used to recognize handwriting of the user. The handwriting recognition software translates movements in to text on screen . Handwriting recognition software constitutes two major phases : . Handwriting transcription Handwriting recognition

Handwriting Transcription:

Handwriting Transcription In this phase, the recorded acceleration signals are then transcripted to it’s original form. Here this aspect is solved using ‘simple’ double integration method in order to retrace the pen tip movement on paper . Method: In order for this principle to work properly, we have to solve two main problems : Firstly, we have to know pen’s spatial orientation in order to withdraw the earth gravity component to the measured accelerations. Secondly , we have to succeed in the double integration, which is to solve all the derivation problems due to this method

We can see: Fig represents the acceleration signals recorded while one is writing a small capital B. :

We can see: Fig represents the acceleration signals recorded while one is writing a small capital B.

Handwriting Recognition:

Handwriting Recognition The second huge aspect is the characters and signatures recognition. The hardware (accelerometers plus contact detector) embedded in the pen has proved a really efficient combination for this application. Method: The same method is used to recognize the characters written by a single user and to find whose signature is the one that has just been done.

Contd…..:

Contd ….. The first step -1- consists in creating the reference database for the characters as for the signatures. For this a mean signal is computed for each recorded symbol. The second step is the recognition process For the creation of database, each symbol was reproduced several times and a mean normalized symbol was computed. For recognition process, the unknown symbol is first normalized, the distance between this symbol and the entire database symbol is computed. Then the unknown symbol is recognized as the one with the lowest distance.

Communication with Other Device:

Communication with Other Device Earlier Smart Quill models developed by BT laboratories communicated with the PC via a radio transmitter, but the current prototype hooks up to a PC via a cable and electronic docking station called an "inkwell." . The data stored in the memory is uploaded to the personal computer when it is placed in to a docking station . An electronic docking station is a small cabinet to which a laptop or notebook computer can be attached for use as a desktop computer; usually have a connector for externally connected devices, such as hard drives or scanners . It can also be connected to printer, modem or mobile phones to send data electronically .

Memory:

Memory SmartQuill has 4MB EEPROM memory. At a time, up to 10 pages of notes can be stored locally on the pen. The data is stored in the memory on the pen until it is uploaded to the personal computer. SmartQuill works by measuring the pen's movements and matching them to the movements that produce letters and words programmed into its memory . It's similar to the way a microphone detects sound

Power:

Power Smart Quill is powered by AAA battery. It will run for about 25hrs on a single AAA battery. The pen exhibits automatic power on/off system. The pen will power down after a period of no movement. So it supports automatic on/off system.

Applications:

Applications Smart Quill isn’t all space-age. It contains an ink cartridge so that users can see what they write on paper .Hence a simple application of SmartQuill is that it write notes on paper. This information recorded in the pen is then downloaded to PC. The information stored in the pen can be input to other devices such as mobile phones, printers, modems, desktop computers etc for different applications. It also provides handheld computer applications such as digital diary, contacts, calculators etc. SmartQuill synchronizes files, e-mails and messages to PC. SmartQuill can be used for voice record and supports speech recognition . Voice record is made possible through ADPCM speech compression

Advantages:

Advantages One of the major assets is that SmartQuill does not need a screen to work. This is possible through revolutionary "Spatial Sensing" system which uses semiconductor accelerometers. Accelerometers senses pen/hand movement instead of shapes . SmartQuill provides intuitive user interface. Security – Security is another important feature. It is made possible through two facilities: It enables handwriting recognition .User can train the pen to recognize a particular handwriting style. The symbols regularly used by user get stored in the memory, by frequent use of the pen. Hence the pen accepts only the owner’s handwriting and rejects intruder’s handwriting. It enables signature verification. Hence Passwords could be entered in the form of signatures.

Contd……:

Contd …… The SmartQuill is also a 3D-mouse, when twisted in air in a certain way it enables scrolling of the screen. It also automatically detects left or right handed use . The Smart Quill overcomes the problem of typing on tiny keyboards of portable devices and, linked to a mobile phone, could be used to send emails. Power saving Small screen size requires less battery power . No movement of the pen causes auto power down SmartQuill is all mobile, smaller in size and enables one-handed use.

Disadvantages:

Disadvantages In Smart Quill it seems to be not only unnecessary, but rather undesirable. The pen is a usual input device and mixing input and output capabilities may lead to user confusion The small size of the screen means constant cursor control, and it also means interference between writing and controlling the screen.

Conclusion:

Conclusion Smart Quill will be brought to the market by the end of 2006. The estimated cost of this futuristic pen is around $600 . SmartQuill supports two factors: small size and convenient use . The future of SmartQuill ensures all computation power the user needs right inside the pen. Reducing the size of handheld computers can only be taken so far before they become unusable. Keyboards become so tiny you require needle-like fingers to operate them and screens that need constant cursor controls to read simple text. The introduction of SmartQuill is the best solution for this problem.